World Meetei Council (WMC) Blames Centre for Failing Manipur During Ongoing Crisis

Imphal: Slamming the central government’s handling of the Manipur crisis, the World Meetei Council has accused New Delhi of abandoning the state in its darkest hour. In a strongly-worded memo, the Council says the people of Manipur have suffered two years of turmoil, asking why the Centre waits for “mutual understanding” when basic governance and security are in question.

The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 12, 2025, conveys sharp criticism from the Council, which accuses the Government of India of failing to provide effective leadership or meaningful intervention amid a prolonged ethnic conflict. The World Meetei Council (WMC) expressed deep disappointment with what it calls the Centre’s “flawed logic” of waiting for warring communities to reach consensus on their own.

“It is disheartening that even after nearly two years, the Centre continues to maintain that this is an issue between two communities… Surely not,” the letter states, questioning whether such an approach would ever be taken in other Indian states experiencing communal unrest.

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The WMC acknowledged some positive developments, such as the reduction in violence following the imposition of the President’s Rule on February 13 and the recovery of illegal arms from the Meetei population. However, it also flagged what it described as “uneven” enforcement, pointing out that similar action is yet to be taken in Chin-Kuki dominated areas.

The letter also referred to a dialogue hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi on April 5, where a proposed six-point agreement aimed at resettling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and reopening highways was discussed. According to the Council, the Meetei side accepted the draft, but the Chin-Kuki representatives later rejected it, reiterating demands for a separate administration or Union Territory status.

“This clearly shows that waiting for mutual agreement is not working. People are still suffering. Progress has come to a standstill,” the WMC warned.

In one of the most striking statements, the Council lamented, “Had Manipur been an independent nation, this issue could have been resolved far more swiftly and effectively.”

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The letter framed the Centre’s continued indecision as a betrayal of Manipur’s future, warning that the state is being left behind while the rest of the country moves forward. It called on the Prime Minister to urgently reaffirm Manipur’s place within India—not just in rhetoric, but through strong action on the ground.

As a first step, the Council demanded the immediate reopening and securing of national highways, which remain obstructed and unsafe for Meetei civilians. It emphasized that such paralysis only deepens the divide and endangers national unity.